Albert de gresle
Encyclopedia
Albert de Gresle was the first baron of Manchester. Initially the Gresle family, who were Normans, were not residents in Manchester
. Stewards represented the lords of the manor and it continued to grow in their absence.
The first lord of the manor
to actually live in Manchester was Robert Gresle (1174–1230), his presence led to an influx of skilled worker
s. In the early 13th century, Manchester was not under the control of the Gresle family for a period of time. Robert Gresle was one of the barons who made King John
sign the Magna Carta
. Gresle was excommunicated for his role in the rebellion and when King John later ignored the terms of the Magna Carta, Gresle forfeited his lands. King John died in 1216 and the land was returned to Robert Gresle on behalf of King Henry III
. Medieval Manchester was centered around the manor house and the church of St Mary mentioned in the Domesday Book
. The castle in Manchester overlooked the rivers Irk and Irwell where the Chethams School of Music stands today. The Gresle family directly leased land to tenants and created burgage tenements for indirect rent.
The following is an abstract of the charter quoted in the note to the concord No. 29, page 162.
"Albert Gresle, to all his friends, as well French as English, sendeth greeting. Know ye that I have given, and by this my charter confirmed to Roger Gresle, son of Horm, and his heirs, all my lands of Haistune, with all the appurtenances, and all the land called Osolue's Crouet, and all Hetune with all the appurtenances, and large liberties, easements, and free customs; to hold of me and my heirs, as the same Roger held of my father, and for the same service, to wit, for Haistun twenty shillings, or one sor sparrow-hawk, and for Hetune in like manner twenty shillings. Witnesses, Roger de Merci (Marsey, who died 1185), John de Ancotes, Ralph de Birun, Robert son of Seifrid, Robert son of Henry, Geoffrey Gresle, William de Merci (Marsey), and Bernard Gresle." [S.D. 1160–1182]. Kuerden s MSS., Heralds' College, London, Vol. III., K. fol. 6 b.
From: 'Appendix: Additional material to fines', Final Concords for Lancashire, Part 1: 1189-1307 (1899), pp. 216–219. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=52543&strquery=gresle Date accessed: 8 February 2009.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Stewards represented the lords of the manor and it continued to grow in their absence.
The first lord of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
to actually live in Manchester was Robert Gresle (1174–1230), his presence led to an influx of skilled worker
Skilled worker
A skilled worker is any worker who has some special skill, knowledge, or ability in their work. A skilled worker may have attended a college, university or technical school. Or, a skilled worker may have learned their skills on the job...
s. In the early 13th century, Manchester was not under the control of the Gresle family for a period of time. Robert Gresle was one of the barons who made King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
sign the Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
. Gresle was excommunicated for his role in the rebellion and when King John later ignored the terms of the Magna Carta, Gresle forfeited his lands. King John died in 1216 and the land was returned to Robert Gresle on behalf of King Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. Medieval Manchester was centered around the manor house and the church of St Mary mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. The castle in Manchester overlooked the rivers Irk and Irwell where the Chethams School of Music stands today. The Gresle family directly leased land to tenants and created burgage tenements for indirect rent.
The following is an abstract of the charter quoted in the note to the concord No. 29, page 162.
"Albert Gresle, to all his friends, as well French as English, sendeth greeting. Know ye that I have given, and by this my charter confirmed to Roger Gresle, son of Horm, and his heirs, all my lands of Haistune, with all the appurtenances, and all the land called Osolue's Crouet, and all Hetune with all the appurtenances, and large liberties, easements, and free customs; to hold of me and my heirs, as the same Roger held of my father, and for the same service, to wit, for Haistun twenty shillings, or one sor sparrow-hawk, and for Hetune in like manner twenty shillings. Witnesses, Roger de Merci (Marsey, who died 1185), John de Ancotes, Ralph de Birun, Robert son of Seifrid, Robert son of Henry, Geoffrey Gresle, William de Merci (Marsey), and Bernard Gresle." [S.D. 1160–1182]. Kuerden s MSS., Heralds' College, London, Vol. III., K. fol. 6 b.
From: 'Appendix: Additional material to fines', Final Concords for Lancashire, Part 1: 1189-1307 (1899), pp. 216–219. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=52543&strquery=gresle Date accessed: 8 February 2009.